Mill Pond Park At Risk

I would add two comments. First, there was no traffic study for this project. The community center would be built along the already traffic-heavy Willard Avenue, causing additional delays and backups and probably requiring another traffic light. A small street along one side of the property would have to be expanded with property condemnations to provide an adequate alternative entrance to the site.

Second, this project does not resolve the problem of a hodgepodge of garages, a large parking area and more than 70 school buses abutting the park on Garfield Street near the town hall. Mill Pond Park has a beautiful waterfall and garden that is part of the town seal. Apart from the effect of these buses, buildings and lot on the aesthetics, does anyone know how they adversely affect the ecological quality of the surrounding area, including the brook that flows from the Mill Pond waterfall? They should be removed from the park area.

Parkland is precious. Please vote no on Sept. 9 for all of us, our families and the future generations of our community.

Jim Gadarowski, NewingtonThe writer is a former chairman of Newington Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission.